Mapping wild seafood potential, supply, flow and demand in Lithuania

Abstract

While member states have made a great effort into mapping ecosystem services (ES) in Europe, much work is still needed, especially in the marine domain. Difficulties in understanding the ecological functioning of marine ecosystem services (MES), together with the lack of administrative and technical resources, calls for the development of new assessment approaches. Even for the well-studied MES, the provision of wild seafood, few studies focus on mapping and mostly in a qualitative way by applying expert-based methods. This study aims to quantitatively map MES by developing new methodological frameworks for each of the components of the cascade model for wild seafood provision. The results showed a high potential of wild seafood provision in coastal areas, contrasting with offshore areas of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). Wild seafood is mainly supplied in the central part of the EEZ and is influenced by biological (e.g. sediments) and anthropogenic (e.g. shipping) factors. The flow was mapped using the location of first buying companies, restaurants, hotels, and supermarkets showing that the highest values were located in the urban areas. The coastal zone has a high flow as a consequence of the high density of fish selling points. The demand was mapped using the population density, number of tourists, and the fish consumption per capita; showing a high demand for fish products in urban as coastal areas. A validation step for the developed potential and supply, the analysis of the limitations and methodological considerations for all components, highlights the future data needs; showing decision-makers where to direct efforts. Mapping all components of wild seafood provision is critical to understand dynamics, the trade-offs associated, and its role in the socio-economic dimensions of coastal communities. This information can then be integrated into decision-making by showing the advantages in achieving a sustainable provision of wild seafood.

Keywords: Baltic Sea; Ecosystem modeling; Fisheries; Lithuania; Marine ecosystem services; Maxent.